GCap radio changes hit local output

GCap Media is to ramp up the number of networked shows across its 42-strong stable of mainstream local radio stations, including BRMB and Red Dragon.

A new three-hour weekday show is to be launched on most of GCap's One Network, as well as the introduction of a number of new syndicated shows to weekend schedules.

The One Network includes London's Capital 95.8 FM, BRMB in Birmingham and Cardiff station Red Dragon - however, the London station will not be taking the networked show.

These changes follow a networking drive at the Heart and Galaxy stations owned by Global Radio, which is in the process of buying GCap.

They mean the One Network stations affected may have as little as 10 hours of locally produced programmes on weekdays, and four hours a day at weekends.

The One Network already has five flagship networked shows, including the Sunday afternoon chart show, Hit 40UK.

Another eight hours of networked programmes are set to be introduced on Saturdays, and an extra four hours on Sundays. The breakfast and drivetime programmes will not be affected.

The latest changes, which are due to come into effect at the end of June, follow a relaxation of Ofcom's rules on the amount of local programming that must be broadcast by radio stations.

Global's £375m takeover of GCap is not likely not be completed until June, but may be delayed further by an intervention from the competition authorities.

GCap relaunched the One Network last year with a single on-air and online strapline – "Haven't you heard?" – for the first time across all 42 stations. It also introduced network shows fronted by Myleene Klass and Jeremy Kyle.

It is more complicated networking shows across a stable of stations such as the One Network, rather than a uniformly branded group of stations such as Heart or Galaxy, because all the stations have different names.

The One Network includes Invicta FM in Kent and Power FM in Hampshire. The network had a combined average weekly reach of just over 7 million listeners in the second half of last year.

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